4 things you might not know about DIY home security

With the holiday season approaching, you may be thinking about giving your family the gift of home security — especially if you know you’ll be traveling over the holidays.

A growing number of homeowners are turning to do-it-yourself smart home security systems to address their security concerns. Installing your own home security system can be well worth the investment; while the average system may cost hundreds of dollars to get started, monthly fees are low, and when a home security system is present, 60 percent of attempted burglaries fail, according to StatisticBrain.

Crime doesn't take a holiday

During the holidays, burglars know many families travel to visit distant loved ones. Plus, homes filled with gifts can be a treasure trove for thieves.

Here are ways DIY home security systems make it easy to keep your smart home safe and secure during the holiday season and throughout the year:

* Affordable and flexible — Professional monitoring of a smart home security system from traditional players and well-known brands can cost nearly $50 a month — and then lock you in for four years or longer. When you're already spending on holiday shopping and celebrations, the extra cost of monitoring can seem daunting. DIY systems typically offer the same components, such as security cameras, motion sensors and smart locks, without the costs and contracts of professional installation. Plus, you can still get affordable 24/7 monitoring; Iris by Lowe’s Professional Monitoring is $14.95 per month.

* Customizable for your needs — DIY home security systems typically offer starter packages that contain the basic components you need to set up a simple system in your home, such as a smart hub and sensors. Once installed, the smart system is scalable, and you can add products or solutions that meet your needs by just shopping at your favorite retailer — no need to call up a security company to come out to your house for an expensive visit. For example, Iris offers a catalog of more than 150 devices that pair with its smart hub, including cameras, motion sensors, locks, light switches, thermostats, smoke alarms and more. Whether you want to secure and monitor a door or window shielded from sight, or you want to turn lights on and off automatically to make your home look occupied while you're out, a smart home security system can do that.

* Mobile monitoring — Being able to monitor your home security system from your smartphone gives added peace of mind, and many DIY systems also provide apps that allow you to remotely control and monitor home systems. Whether you're out shopping and realize you forgot to arm the system, or visiting out-of-state relatives, you can manage your smart home security system as if you were at home.

* Smart home compatible — If you’re already using smart technologies like Google Home or an Amazon Echo smart speaker, these components may work with and even enhance your DIY home security system. Systems allow you to create a fully integrated smart home experience. For example, you can use the smart system’s mobile app to turn on lights and the home security alarm when you’re away from home and control it by voice when you are home.

If you’re worried about home safety this holiday season, you may be wondering whether you should buy a home security system. Asurvey by Strategy Analytics found many Americans are interested in home security, but dislike the high costs associated with major security system providers. A DIY home security system could be a solution.

DIY home security systems:

* Are affordable — DIY systems offer the same components and monitoring as professionally installed ones, but without the costs of pro installation and long-term contracts. For example, Iris by Lowe’s Professional Monitoring is $14.95 per month with no long-term contract.

* Can be customized for your needs with the exact combination of components you desire.

* Allow you to monitor and control the system remotely through a mobile device.